Statewide public infrastructure grant program establishment to support housing densification and economic development

This bill creates a new grant program in Minnesota to help counties, cities, and housing authorities build denser housing and support local economic growth. The state would provide up to 50 percent of the funding for site preparation and necessary public infrastructure, such as water, sewer, and street improvements, while local partners must cover the remaining costs. Grants are restricted to projects that address shortages of workforce or affordable housing and are explicitly excluded from single-family home developments. To receive funding, applicants must demonstrate that their projects will attract significant private investment, benefit the local economy, and hire local workers, with the state retaining the right to cancel grants if projects are not completed within five years.